Megan Miranda always gives us such addictive stories. Last to Vanish had me wanting more, wondering how it was going to end. There is a cast of characMegan Miranda always gives us such addictive stories. Last to Vanish had me wanting more, wondering how it was going to end. There is a cast of characters that are all hiding something in this small town. A small town where hikers just keep going missing without a trace. Not even a body. Where are these people going? Who knows what is happening, somebody knows something.
This is not a town that I would want to visit, although it sounds beautiful. Hiking trails for miles. But it is cold no dangerous. And outsiders are not to be trusted by the locals. Even Abbey, who has been there for 10 years. But she has an feeling, and things are not adding up. When the brother of the last man to go missing turns up, she sets out to help him. She feels guilty for so many things. But does she really want to know the truth?
With limited mobile service, and people who will do anything to keep their secrets, who can she trust?
Highly recommend once again. I always look forward to new books from Megan.Â
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for my advanced copy of this book to read....more
The Mother is the debut adult fiction novel from Jane Caro, a women with many talents. This book evoked so many emotions in my whilst reading it. It mThe Mother is the debut adult fiction novel from Jane Caro, a women with many talents. This book evoked so many emotions in my whilst reading it. It mad me angry, it made me sad and it really made me think. It is confronting look at domestic violence and the ways that the law and can and cannot protect people.
This is the story of Miriam, a recently widowed mother of 2 daughters. She lost her husband suddenly and both her daughters are now married an living their own lives. Daughter Ally has just married and moved away to the country with her new husband where he is to be the local vet. She is soon pregnant and feeling very alone. Miriam worries that she is losing her daughter, with less and less contact with her, but puts it down to being newly weds. She soon realises that there is alot more to it than that and she vows to do anything and everything to protect her daughter.
It is a look at how looks can be deceiving and how things are not always as they seem. As the behavior escalates, Miriam finds herself doing and thinking things that she never dreamed she would. What would you do to protect those that you love and how far would you go?
This is a really powerful story and on that will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you to Allen and Unwin for my advanced copy to read. Published in Australia March 1st
And There He Kept Her is a dark, slow burn thriller that kept me intrigued. Another small town with lots of secrets, a setting that I find hard to resAnd There He Kept Her is a dark, slow burn thriller that kept me intrigued. Another small town with lots of secrets, a setting that I find hard to resist. There is a lot going on and lots of characters that are not so likeable. I read this in a day.
Two teenagers get a lot more than they bargained for when break into the house if an elderly man to steal his prescription drugs. But they picked the wrong old man to cross. What happens next is shocking and disturbing. Ben Packard was once a frequent visitor to Sandy Lake but hasn’t been back since a family tragedy. He has now come back as the acting sheriff, in order to have another fresh start. His search for the missing kids, with a family connection, will show him the hidden stories of this town.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read ...more
The Attack was an intense Aussie thriller with a unique setting. It is another tough book to read in places but sadly I am sure that there are childreThe Attack was an intense Aussie thriller with a unique setting. It is another tough book to read in places but sadly I am sure that there are children out there who are living their young lives cuaght up in these situations.
Set on Finch Island, off the coast of Queensland, a former leper camp, Robyn now lives and works as the caretaker and hosts different groups for camps. The Attack is about a bootcamp for troubled teens. These boys have all gotten themselves into some kind of trouble with the law and this is their chance to redeem themselves. Robyn moved there to escape events of 10 years ago, but those memories come flooding back when she recognises one of the boys from her past.
We learn about her time as a Kindergarten teacher 10 years ago and the trouble student Aaron and his family. Arron is caught up in the middle of a nasty custody dispute, with family that are not really looking out for his welfare. He is unruly and out of control and scared. I felt sorry for him, he was 6 years old and being pushed and pulled in so many different ways.
Thanks to Text Publishing for sending me a copy of this book, I will definately look out for more books by this author....more
The Murder Rule took over my entire afternoon, once I started reading it everything else was pushed aside. I really enjoyed DervlaAbsolutely loved it!
The Murder Rule took over my entire afternoon, once I started reading it everything else was pushed aside. I really enjoyed Dervla’s Cormac Reilly series so I knew that I would be in for a great story. This stand alone thriller, this time set in the US, was easily as much of a page turner.
We met a young law student, Hannah just before she leaves home in a mission. She has found her mothers diary and learned what happened to her when she was younger. The man who abused her has been in prison for 11 years but she has discovered that the Innocence Project at a university in Virginia is working on a case to have him released as he is claiming innocence. She is determined to infiltrate them and throw a spammer in the works. And she will stop at nothing to have her way,
It is a fast paced and compelling read that I just couldn’t not stop reading. I loved Hannah and her strength and sense of family. It is a wild ride and I highly recommend.
Thanks to Harper Collins Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. Grab it May 4th....more
Aussie crime books are some of my favourite books to read. And discovering a new voice in that genre is exciting - I present to you all Dinuka McKenziAussie crime books are some of my favourite books to read. And discovering a new voice in that genre is exciting - I present to you all Dinuka McKenzie. Wow - The Torrent was fantastic. A debut novel from an author that I hope we will hear alot more from in the future. In fact, ant the end of this book is sneak peak of the next book Taken, out next year so that was very exciting. I will certainly be looking forward to that.
The Torrent is set in Northern NSW, in a small town called Esserton. Detective Sergeant Kate Miles is very very pregnant, with not long until she goes on maternity leave. But she is not going to let that get in the way of her doing the best job she can. 2 big cases have her attention - a hold up at a local fast food restaurant where a teenager was violently hurt, and an investigation into the death of a man who died in the summer floods. With the locals all keeping secrets, neither case is as straight forward as they first seemed. Kate has her work cut out for her before her baby comes.
I loved Kate, she is tough, caring and professional. She doesn't just take the easy way out and she works hard. Being a mum to a little boy already, trying to juggle home and work life is tough, especially with her belly and swollen feet. She felt to me as a realistic portrayal of a working mum, doing a tough job.
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for sending me this copy to read. the Torrent is out in all good bookshops in Australia now - so what are you waiting for. Highly recommend....more
B.A Paris books are always shocking and very addictive. The blurb on The Prisoner is vague with good reason. It is a tough book to talk about without B.A Paris books are always shocking and very addictive. The blurb on The Prisoner is vague with good reason. It is a tough book to talk about without giving anything away. Absolutely a case of less is best. I am glad that I didn't know much about it before reading it. It was a wild and completely over the top ride and I was there for it all the way. It is dark, twisty and full of surprises.
In a nutshell, it the story of Amelie. She grew up poor in France with her father. When he passes away, she has nobody. She packs up and heads to London to start fresh. Her dream is study law and have a good life. She makes some friends and soon ends up in the sights of billionaire Nigel Hawthorne. On a work trip to Vegas, she ends up in a marriage of convenience that becomes the stuff of nightmares.
If you have read books by this author before you know the score. Expect the unexpected and trust nobody. It was a fun and fast read for me, exactly what I needed when I wasn't feeling well.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for sending me this advanced copy to read. Published in Australia on November 8th....more
I honestly do not know how to review The Last Housewife and do it the justice that it deserves. It went straight onto my favourites of 2022 list iWOW!
I honestly do not know how to review The Last Housewife and do it the justice that it deserves. It went straight onto my favourites of 2022 list in February, and it is not out until August! I could not wait any longer to read it, and there was squealing involved when I got approved for an early copy on Edelweiss by Sourcebooks Landmark - thank you, thank you thank you!! I still can't believe I was approved.
So, in 2021, In My Dreams I Hold A Knife was everywhere, and I mean everywhere but Australia! I finally did get my hands on a copy of it and I flew through it, absolutely devouring it. It was amazing. The Last Housewife is brilliant too, and a very different kettle of fish. It is a heavy read, which did leave me emotionally drained. The research that must have gone into writing this book just boggles the mind. It is such a dark subject and yet I could not stop turning the pages.
Add to all that a podcast! I love books that incorporate podcasts, and I think this will make a great audiobook. It is all told from Shay's point of view and it worked so well. She wants to be a writer but has found herself married to a rich man and being a housewife. We learn so much about her and her friends from college, years that changed them all forever.
Ashley Winstead has another hit book on her hands and you all need to read it come August. I will be telling anybody who will listen to me how good this book is for a long time....more
Another fantastic read from Jennifer Hillier. I don't know why it is so hard to get her books in Australia, but I am so happy that I got this from BooAnother fantastic read from Jennifer Hillier. I don't know why it is so hard to get her books in Australia, but I am so happy that I got this from Book Depository. You bet I dropped everything and read it straight away.
I was immediately drawn into the story, and even though I guessed the twist in this one, it was a fun and addictive read. Highly recommend ...more
Those Who Return is a slow burn, atmospheric read. There is a lot happening and a lot of characters to keep track of and I struggled with it. It took Those Who Return is a slow burn, atmospheric read. There is a lot happening and a lot of characters to keep track of and I struggled with it. It took me a while to read as I couldn’t get my head in the right place for it. It is dark and deals with murders of children so that is always hard to read anyway. The characters were not very likeable or easy to relate to either.
With alot of jumping back and forth in time, it was hard to stop and start reading. The ending was much faster paced but after the rest of the book felt rushed.
I had high hopes for this one, and while ai didn’t hate it, it is not one that will stay with me. It just felt a bit messy and too much.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for my copy to read. Can’t love them all....more
I do love a good Aussie crime thriller, and Wild Dogs ticked all the boxes. Reading like a fast paced action film, it was so much fun to read. Not alwI do love a good Aussie crime thriller, and Wild Dogs ticked all the boxes. Reading like a fast paced action film, it was so much fun to read. Not always easy with some graphic scenes as you would expect, but all in context of the story.
Outback thrillers are some of my favourites, with the setting almost another character. The remoteness, the small community of people, the lack of phone reception and supplies - it all adds to the story and builds the tension.
Gabe was a conflicting character. At times I liked him, at others I wanted to slap him. He is a loner, travelling the WA outback in his job as a trapper. He catches the wild dogs to protect the farms animals and produce. He does some other things on the side as well, that will come back to bite him eventually. One day he stumbles on a Afghan man about to be shot, and decides he needs to intervene. This puts him and Amin on the run from dangerous people, who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets and income stream.
Thanks to Penguin Books Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. Released in Australia February 1st...more
I should know by now, going into any book by Britney King to expect the unexpected. Well, The Secretary managed to shock and surprise me just as much I should know by now, going into any book by Britney King to expect the unexpected. Well, The Secretary managed to shock and surprise me just as much as always.
This book is out there crazy and easy to read in one sitting. Plenty of twists and turns and characters that you will want to shake, The Secretary is must read, and is available now on Kindle Unlimited. What are you waiting for??...more
This is a really hard book to review, due to its subject matter and the many many triggers that there will be in this book for people. It is a deeply This is a really hard book to review, due to its subject matter and the many many triggers that there will be in this book for people. It is a deeply disturbing and dark read, and I couldn't stop reading. It wasn't a light summer read in any way and will certainly not be for everyone.
I am not going to talk about the plot too much, there is alot going on all the time between the characters. At the centre of it all is Michele Cameron, a black woman who has just been released from prison where she has spent a large part of her life for her part in a child's murder, when she was just a child herself. She is now on the outside and struggling with a new name and life. She has no friends or family and is constantly worried that people will know who she really is. Her main interactions are with a police officer who she learns to trust, and a writer who wants to write a book about her.
I did read this on a rainy day whilst on summer holidays and didn't stop until I finished it. There is a surprising ending and it will give you much to think about.
I received a copy of an ARC for this book via a fellow booklover from the publisher. Released in Australia February 2nd....more
I do love a locked room mystery and Sophie Hannah books so I was looking forward to getting stuck into this one. It was a little crazy onwards to the I do love a locked room mystery and Sophie Hannah books so I was looking forward to getting stuck into this one. It was a little crazy onwards to the end but definitely entertaining.
Jane is on her honeymoon at an exclusive resort for couples when she starts to get notes left for her. she is told � beware of the couple at the next table� which isn’t helpful as all the tables are the same distance apart. And then she is murdered. It had to be someone on the island, one of the couples. All the staff had left for the night. But who and why? As we read, we learn more about all these characters, none of whom are particularly likeable or trustworthy. Any of them might have done it.
I didn’t realise going into this that it was book 11 of a series but it really did not matter. It is the police characters of Simon and Charlie that were recurring but this can easily be read as a stand alone.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for my copy of this book to read. It is out now....more
What is it with me reading books set in the snow and ice in the middle of summer? This was the second book with a cold setting I read in January and IWhat is it with me reading books set in the snow and ice in the middle of summer? This was the second book with a cold setting I read in January and I loved it.
The tag line of "There's a murderer on the mountain, and at this altitude, there isn't enough oxygen to breathe, let alone scream" had me intrigued and let me tell you, it kept me turning pages well into the night. It is so atmospheric, with the mountains, the isolation and the abundance of snow. The author did a fantastic job of building the suspense, and the fear in the main character Cecily. I was scared for her and kept telling her to go back, leave the mountain. Things going wrong and bodies building up whilst climbing a mountain at minus degrees and snow storms is not my idea of fun. And all for an interview!! She is one gutsy character and I really did admire her, even if I wanted to grab her an pull her to safety.
This is a thrill ride, full of intensity and characters you will love to hate. Who can be trusted? They are all there for different reasons and will do anything to reach that summit.
Thank you to Penguin Books Australia for this surprise ARC, you know me well. I think this will be a big hit once released February 17th...more
I absolutely loved Dead Man Switch (or The War Widow in the US) and could not wait to dive back into the world of private invesBillie Walker is back!!
I absolutely loved Dead Man Switch (or The War Widow in the US) and could not wait to dive back into the world of private investigator Billie Walker in 1947 Sydney. Once again, Tara Moss has blown me away. The Ghosts of Paris is a wonderful historical mystery book that was exciting, emotional and addictive. I can't recommend this book and series more
Billie and Sam are hired by a wealthy woman to find her husband, a business man who travelled to London and Paris 2 years ago for work and never came home. The chance to go back to Europe is snapped up by Billie, who sees it as a chance to also do some more digging into what happened to her husband, Jack Rake who never came home from Warsaw during the war. A long 3 day trip and they set straight to work, but it soon becomes clear that this won't be an easy job. A string of close calls and Billie realises that somebody doesn't want them to succeed.
It was fascinating to learn about life after the war, not only in Sydney but in Paris and London. Things that we take for granted these days were just not options in 1947. For Billie, as a woman it was even harder. Being a woman who worked and didn't take no for an answer.
I just love Billie and I hope we will see more of her. The world is changing quickly around her and I can't wait to see how she deals with it.
A big thank you to Netgalley and Dutton Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. The Ghosts of Paris is published June 7th....more
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